Cooking Lesson #421: The Original Gin Gimlet Cocktail

...from the California Happy Hour Bar

How you doin’? My mother’s favorite cocktail was a Vodka Gimlet—it was the first drink I learned to make—vodka and Rose’s Lime Water. Personally, I am a gin guy, myself and I am not very fond of Rose’s.
 
So, what is a Gimlet, you ask? A gin gimlet is a classic cocktail made of freshly squeezed lime juice, Hendrick’s Gin (my preference) and simple syrup. It’s sometimes served with a splash of soda water. This cocktail became popular in the 1950’s, but a recipe for a gin gimlet was included in a 1930’s cocktail book.
 
Okay, time for a little history of the cocktail (take notes, there may be a pop quiz next period). I’ve been told that some historians think it came from a Surgeon Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette (Oh, that’s where the name comes from), who started pouring it for British sailors to prevent scurvy. An alternate thought declared that a gimlet was a tool used for drilling small holes on navy ships, and it could refer to the drink’s “piercing” effect on sailors. Whatever the case, the gimlet has now solidified itself as one of history’s great cocktails.
 
A Gin Gimlet Cocktail is tangy and sweet, with an aroma of gin. It has slightly medicinal botanical gin flavor. If you’re not a fan of strong drinks, we’d recommend trying the gin fizz instead. Or, you can add a splash of soda water to mellow out the flavors in this cocktail!
 
So, prepare to prepare a retro cocktail that’s super refreshing and takes only 5 minutes to make. It has the perfect balance of sweet and tart with the lively botanical flavor of the Hendrick’s Gin.
 
Ingredients
2 ounces gin (I prefer Hendrick’s, but then I have already said that a couple of dozen times)
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
Splash of soda water (optional)
Lime wheel (garnish)
 
Directions

1. Add the gin, lime juice, and syrup to a cocktail shaker.
2. Fill with ice and shake it like you mean it until cold.
3. Strain into a cocktail glass and top with a splash of soda water, if desired.
4. Garnish with a lime wheel and serve.

ChefSecret:  A gin gimlet is traditionally served in a cocktail glass similar in shape to a martini glass, though they are slightly different: a cocktail glass is slightly smaller and more rounded, and a martini glass has more of a cone shape with a a shorter stem. No need to buy a special cocktail glass if you have a martini glass.

Quip of the Day: “If life gives you limes, Add GIN.”
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